Hedman perhaps is the most intriguing of those players returning, as he fills a huge hole that had been present in the Lightning’s top defensive pairing.

While Hedman, though, said that he “feels good and is ready to play,” Boucher said he wouldn’t necessarily give him top minutes Tuesday night as a precautionary measure.

“The truth is he hasn’t played in a long, long time,” Boucher said. “So we aren’t necessarily going to throw him right in there against the top lines and ask him to play 28, 29 minutes. We’re going to be slow in getting him in there and giving him minutes he can handle.”
HANG THOSE HEADS HIGH
On Monday, Guy Boucher praised his team for staying optimistic through the slew of injuries and adversity it had faced prior to putting together its current string of four consecutive victories.

Boucher said he believed the confidence among each individual and team cohesiveness helped turn the seven-game losing streak around and got them started on its current path towards a playoff push.

“People ask me how we won four games in a row, and I say because we don’t look at it like four games,” Boucher said.

“We see it as one game and we keep the scope of things very small. We don’t see the broad picture and it has certainly made a difference.”
SHOOTOUT SPECIALIST?Steven Stamkos was the target of some playful criticism from teammates and media on Monday after the Lightning forward showcased his crafty shootout moves in the 2012 NHL All-Star Skills Competition over the weekend in Ottawa.

Stamkos has not made a single shootout attempt this season, going 0-for-3, and also failed to score on each his seven opportunities during the 2010-11 campaign. On Saturday night at Scotiabank Place, however, the Lightning forward converted on all three tries to be crowned the champion in that specific challenge.